BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill has devastated the Gulf Coast's commercial and recreational fishing industries, closing wide swaths of water because of contamination, which has forced many boat captains and their crewmembers to turn to BP for employment.
Capt. Bobby Walker, who has operated charter fishing boats out of Orange Beach, Ala., for more than 34 years, said BP's Vessels of Opportunity (VOO) program is working--"if it continues and if BP continues to pay."
As of July 8, approximately 3,150 vessels, including Walker's, have joined the VOO program, established by BP to utilize the unemployed captains and crews of local commercial and charter boats in oil-skimming, scouting and boom-deployment operations.
"There's absolutely no fishing going on, offshore or inshore," Walker said. "It at least helps us get a paycheck. It's helping us make a little money this weekend."
While BP initially hired some boats from outside the area as VOO, it is working to rectify that oversight, as well as reimburse fisherman for the cost of missed trips, Walker said, who added that he is keeping his eye on concerns about a possible BP bankruptcy.
"As long as they don't hit a brick wall," Walker remarked.
He explained that unlike the larger boats skimming oil 50-60 miles offshore, his boat patrols for oil within roughly three miles of the beach.
"We're spotters. We find it -- crude oil, it's just real bright red -- we spot it and then call them (BP) and they get helicopters up," Walker said. "The red stuff--that sure enough, pure red stuff: that's the stuff they're trying to get off the water."
Walker said it seems as though the oil has zeroed in on the Orange Beach area, which he called a "bull's-eye for oil."
He added that the containment booms are ineffective at stopping the underwater plumes of dispersed oil.
"The booms can't catch it; it comes in under the boom," Walker said.
Dr. Cliff Lange, associate professor of civil engineering at Auburn University, explained booms will be unable to contain crude dispersed throughout the water column because it moves differently than surface plumes.
"If that stuff comes ashore, it will surely defeat the boom," Lange said. "It'll go right under it because (dispersed crude) wants to be in the water, and most booms are allowed to let water go underneath and just skim the surface. It will also defeat the surface skimmers."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
